Comments from obitguy

Like most Memphians in the 60s, this was where we saw “The Sound of Music.” “Ice Station Zebra” played there a long time also. Two buddies and I snuck out of Central High to go to the first showing of “The Exorcist.” David forged a note from his mom about a doctor’s appointment. He then ran to a pay phone by the Methodist Hospital. Bruce and I then went separately to the principle’s office and told them we were sick. We called the payphone and David passed himself off as our mothers to the lady in the office. We caught a bus out east and got into the first showing. My last memory of the Paramount was seeing the lousy Led Zeppelin concert movie “The Song Remains the Same.” There was a Shoney’s next to the theater I remember seeing a group of old diners looking on in horror at all of us “long haired hippies” lined up to see the movie.

Never had the pleasure of seeing a movie here, but I do remember getting in a fight with my dad over wanting to. We were on a family drive to Shelby Forest when we drove by the theater. It was showing Ray Harryhausen’s “Valley of Gwangi.” I begged my dad to drop me off while they went to the park. It got ugly. Had to wait several more years to see the cowboys vs. dinosaurs saga and then it was on TV.

My buddy Jeremy and I went to the last show at the Quartet. We saw “Munich.” The manager let us snag the poster. Got Cybill Shepherd’s autograph at the concession stand when she was in town promoting “The Last Picture Show.” Used my fake ID to get into dozens of R-rated movies back in the 70s including “Magnum Force” and “The Summer of 42.” Went to a Billy Graham matinee movie with the 9th grade of Grace St. Lukes. A number of us snuck into “Deliverance.” Since “Deliverance” started about 20 minutes after “A Time to Run” we took turns peeking out into the lobby to see if the other movie was over. I had the bad luck to stick my head out just as the principle Mr. Scoggins was standing there. He told me to get whoever else was in the theater and get on the bus. He never said a word about it too us, or told our parents. I always liked him for that. I have fond memories of seeing dozens and dzens of movies at the Quartet.

This was such a beautiful theater. It is a disgrace that it was allowed to end up like it did. I remember my sister and I having to sit through “Dr. Dolittle” back in the late 60s. Saw “Fiddler on the Roof” with my mom, “Day of the Jackal” with my grandmother. My 7th grade buddies from Auburndale and I saw “The Poseidon Adventure” several times. I must have seen “Billy Jack” a dozen times. So many movies: “2001,” “Tora,Tora, Tora,” “Z,” “The Cross and the Switchblade.” Many great times.